Fuel-based heater

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a fuel-based heater including a fuel reservoir for storing fuel, a combustor for burning the fuel received from the fuel reservoir, and a security device for cutting the supply of the fuel to the combustor from the fuel reservoir when the temperature of the combustor goes up to a limit so that the temperature of the combustor can go down.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a tool and, more particularly, to a tool equipped with a fuel-based heater and, more particularly, to a fuel-based heater with a security device.

2. Related Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a dryer includes a body 1 and a conventional fuel-based heater. The conventional fuel-based heater includes a fuel reservoir 6 put in the body 1, a mixer 4 connected to the fuel reservoir 6, a combustor 2 connected to the mixer 4, an igniter 8 put close to the combustor 2, a battery 5 put in the body 1, a fan 3 connected to the battery 5, and a switch 7. Electrically, the switch 7 is provided between the battery 5 and the igniter 8, and between the battery 5 and the fan 3. Mechanically, the switch 7 is connected to the fuel reservoir 6. As the switch 7 is maneuvered, the fuel reservoir 6 is opened so that fuel is provided to the mixer 4. Simultaneously, the fan 3 is actuated to propel air into the mixer 4. Thus, the fuel is mixed with the air in the mixer 4. The mixture is further propelled to the combustor 2. Simultaneously, the igniter 8 is turned on to ignite the mixture in the combustor 2. Heat is generated due to the combustion of the mixture. However, in practice, a user has to maneuver the switch 7 several times to order to ignite the mixture because the igniter 8 generates only one spark every time the switch 7 is maneuvered and the mixture has not reached the combustor 2 when the first spark is generated. Once the mixture is ignited, the combustion continues unless the fuel reservoir 6 is closed as the switch 7 is released. However, the continuous combustion might result in over-heating that would damage the igniter 8 and melt the body 1 and eventually hurt the user. To avoid over-heating, the user has to turn off the fuel-based heater. However, the user will have to wait for the fuel-based heater to heat up next time he or she wants to use it.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a fuel-based heater including a fuel reservoir for storing fuel, a combustor for burning the fuel received from the fuel reservoir, and a security device for cutting the supply of the fuel to the combustor from the fuel reservoir when the temperature of the combustor goes up to a limit so that the temperature of the combustor can go down.

An advantage of the fuel-based heater according to the present invention is that it provides a safe operation for users.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed description of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional fuel-based dryer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dryer equipped with a fuel-based heater according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified view of the dryer shown in FIG. 2 in order to show the fuel-based heater.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the fuel-based heater shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hair dryer equipped with the fuel-based heater shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hair curler equipped with the fuel-based heater shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an iron equipped with the fuel-based heater shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cooker equipped with the fuel-based heater shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a dryer equipped with a fuel-based heater according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dryer includes a body 1 consisting of a barrel 104 and a handle 103 extending from the barrel 104. The barrel 104 includes a head 101 and a tail 102.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fuel-based heater includes a switch 1 7 put on the handle 103, a battery 11 put in the handle 103, a fuel reservoir 12 put in the handle 103, a fan 13 put in the barrel 104, a mixer 15 put in the barrel 104, a combustor 14 put in the barrel 104, an igniter 16 put in the barrel 104, and a security device 20 put in the barrel 104.

The security device 20 includes a controller 21, a thermal sensor 22, and a fuel regulator 23. The controller 21 is connected to the switch 17, the battery 11, the fan 13, the igniter 16, the thermal sensor 22, and the fuel regulator 23 electrically. The operation of the controller 21 will be described later. The thermal sensor 22 takes the temperature near the combustor 14 and sends corresponding information to the controller 21. The fuel regulator 23 is provided between the fuel reservoir 12 and the mixer 15 mechanically.

In order to initiate the operation of the fuel-based heater, a user maneuvers the switch 17 so that the controller 21 starts to work. The controller 21 turns on the fan 13, the igniter 16 and the thermal sensor 22, and sets the fuel regulator 23 open.

The fan 13 propels air into the mixer 15 from the exterior of the barrel 104 through holes in the tail 102. With the fuel regulator 23 open, fuel goes to the mixer 15 from the fuel reservoir 12. In the mixer 15, the fuel is mixed with the air, thus forming a mixture. The fan 13 propels the mixture to the combustor 14.

The controller 21 actuates the igniter 8 to continuously generate sparks unless it determines that the temperature near the combustor 14 has reached an ignition-stop point. The ignition-stop point may be the ignition point of the fuel in order to ensure that the mixture will be ignited on reaching the combustor 14. Alternatively, the ignition-stop point may be a proper value in order to suggest that the mixture has reached the combustor 14 and been ignited.

The controller 21 keeps the propeller 13 on and the fuel regulator 23 open in order to maintain the mixing and the combustion. Thus, the temperature goes up. On determining that the temperature has gone up to a limit, the controller 21 closes the fuel regulator 23 in order to shut the fuel from the mixer 15. At this instant, no more mixture is provided, and the combustion will stop soon afterward. The controller 21 keeps the propeller 13 on in order to propel air through the combustor 14, thus cooling down the combustor 14.

The controller 21 keeps the fuel regulator 23 closed unless it determines that the temperature has gone down to a working point. The working point must be higher than the ignition point of the fuel. With the fuel regulator 23 open again, the fuel goes to the mixer 15 from the fuel reservoir 12 again. The mixture is provided again. As soon as the mixture reaches the combustor 14, the combustion of the mixture begins again automatically since the working point is higher than the ignition point of the fuel.

Referring to FIG. 5, the fuel-based heater can be used in a hair dryer.

Referring to FIG. 6, the fuel-based heater can be used in a hair curler.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fuel-based heater can be used in an iron.

Referring to FIG. 8, the fuel-based heater can be used in a cooker.

An advantage of the fuel-based heater is the safe operation thanks to stopping the combustion when the temperature is high. Another advantage of the fuel-based heater is the convenient operation partly thanks to actuating the igniter continuously and stops the igniter when the combustion begins and partly thanks to restoring the combustion when the temperature is low.

The present invention has been described through the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A fuel-based heater comprising: a fuel reservoir for storing fuel; a combustor for burning the fuel received from the fuel reservoir; a security device for cutting the supply of the fuel to the combustor from the fuel reservoir when the temperature of the combustor goes up to a limit so that the temperature of the combustor can go down.
 2. The fuel-based heater according to claim 1 wherein the security device restores the supply of the fuel to the combustor from the fuel reservoir when the temperature of the combustor goes down to a working point at which the combustion of the fuel begins automatically.
 3. The fuel-based heater according to claim 2 wherein the security device comprises a fuel regulator provided between the fuel reservoir and the combustor, a thermal sensor put close to the combustor, and a controller for controlling the fuel regulator and the thermal sensor.
 4. The fuel-based heater according to claim 3 comprising an igniter for igniting the fuel in the combustor.
 5. The fuel-based heater according to claim 4 comprising a switch connected to the controller.
 6. The fuel-based heater according to claim 5 wherein the controller actuates the igniter in order to generate sparks continuously as the switch is maneuvered.
 7. The fuel-based heater according to claim 6 wherein the controller stops the igniter on determining that the temperature of the combustor goes up to an ignition-stop point.
 8. The fuel-based heater according to claim 7 wherein the ignition-stop point is the ignition point of the fuel.
 9. The fuel-based heater according to claim 7 wherein the ignition-stop point is higher than the ignition point of the fuel.
 10. The fuel-based heater according to claim 3 comprising a mixer provided between the fuel regulator and the combustor for mixing the fuel with air.
 11. The fuel-based heater according to claim 10 comprising a fan for propelling the air to the mixer.
 12. The fuel-based heater according to claim 11 wherein the fan is connected to the controller electrically so that the controller actuates the fan when the switched is maneuvered.
 13. A dryer comprising the fuel-based heater according to claim
 1. 14. A hair dryer comprising the fuel-based heater according to claim
 1. 15. A hair curler comprising the fuel-based heater according to claim
 1. 16. An iron comprising the fuel-based heater according to claim
 1. 17. A dryer comprising the fuel-based heater according to claim
 1. 